Drinking Alcohol taught me how to fly
Then it took away the sky....

Thursday, August 30, 2012

1939--A GOOD YEAR!

AGE SIX
 During my childhood it was a tradition
that the children (especially sons) 
in a Jewish family had to play the violin.
 And without question, 
excellence was expected...


The year: Nineteen Hundred 
and Thirty-Nine.
Dear mother of mine
heard the word--and
Every Jewish Mother's son
knew he was a 'chosen one'.

Requirement: I learn to play
(no matter what I might say)
 horse-hair-cat-gut, mortal-sin
apparatus called a violin.
SCREEEECH!

And so, as a gift I received
piles of dust, out of dusty piles.
From attic Grandpa retrieved:
you guessed it, a filthy old viol
no hair--no gut. Dried glue did
not hold it together, but rubber
bands did the trick--one slick
instrument repair
TEEEEECH!

Grandpa was not Jewish, you see...
neither was my mother. Nor me.
But everything is OK in the end.
I play violin, celebrate with friends
Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, EID(!),
Pentecost and the Feast of Stephen.
PRAKTISSSSS!

At an age when greatest of stars
in sports are 'over-the-hill'
I play violin, near and so far
and keep getting better still.
Has nothing to do with the fact
I can no longer hear the trill
SPEEEECH!

But this I say to you, my Peeps
an 'attitude of gratitude' keeps
me happy, joyous and free 
long as God will let me BE.

Blessings.
Love you.
PEEEEEEACE!

--Steve E  (aka steveroni)

PS. To "You know who you are"
I   L O V E  my
Liberty University
security blankee!
Thankee.

19 comments:

  1. haha...will have to send T over so she can see your ps....i so wish we could have heard you play...sorry that did not work out...and brother you are blessed...and beautiful

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG! Does that mean I'll have to keep practicing
      one more year?

      Anna wants to come up next year. We drive (UGH!) a
      regular four-wheeled box, Toyota-like. Violin will fit in that.

      Don't start to worry, we'll be in a motel--grin!
      Brian, SEE what we started here?
      Take care, Bro-Peep.
      PEACE

      Delete
  2. I wish I could hear you play. I bet you make the music of angels. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I DO have an angel hangin' round, named Flexibelle.
      ("Flex", for short!) Nobody can 'see' her but me--grin!

      Delete
  3. I see you playing over the roof tops like Chagall's violinists and lovers.
    Two days ago I and eleven thousand others were played off our feet by Maestro Leonard Cohen. How fabulous he orchestrated his musicians, singers and audience till we were one; for four hours and a half.
    The Hallelujah Man is 78 years old in September.
    I predict you also have many wonderful, creative years ahead, to play, write, live and love.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. WOW! Felisol...if ever I had a reason to NOT live,
      it just evaporated with your comment.
      Thank you!
      --(signed) Undeserving (aka steveroni)

      Did not know the guy was age 78.

      PEACE!

      Delete
  4. Attitude of gratitude is what we should all possess ... lovely words !!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so glad that rubber bands did the trick and you found a friend for life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rubber bands handy for lots of things.

      Do you know, on my recent scooter trip, one of the necessities I had stashed in a handy place? Whole bag of heavy-duty rubber bands. Only used TWO!
      BYE!
      PEACE!

      Delete
  6. Ah Steve, a story with strings attached...... or rubber bands anyway. Great story, isn't the gift of music a great blessing which transcends all languages.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup! Of course John, music IS a language--I guess even actions (ody motions) are a language, whatever communicates.

      I look back on the countless methods of discourse developed in the 20th century and marvel. Especially, when I stop to realize that EVERYTHING mankind invents, was already--in the beginning--invented by the GREAT INVENTOR!
      (Am I preaching? Hope not!--grin!)
      PEACE!

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Jess, you seem to regularly 'nail down' what I did not realize--about my own posts--and others. "Melodic ode"...truly like that--grin!
      PEACE!

      Delete
  8. I read each of the comments just like hearing your violin play.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rain....I also like to read all the comments, there is sometimes more there than in the post/poem--as far as my waywardness being able to understand.
      PEACE!

      Delete
  9. violin and you
    you and your violin
    you play from the heart

    that much i bet
    you've recently written amazing stuff, Steve

    Thanks for evrything
    <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. From you that is quite a nice compliment. Thanks, Dulce!
      Love you.
      Peace!
      Steve

      Delete
  10. Attitude of gratitude is what we should all possess ... lovely words !!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HEY! Ir came through perfectly, GS. Dunno what happened first time. THINKS! Also, thanks for the comment. I have to be reminded to be grateful, even though it is now somewhat of a habit.

      Gratitude is sort of humility? Maybe?

      Well, I certainly don't want too mch of THAT--grin!!!!!!!
      PEACE!

      Delete